EP1342213A2 - Medical analysis device - Google Patents

Medical analysis device

Info

Publication number
EP1342213A2
EP1342213A2 EP01989482A EP01989482A EP1342213A2 EP 1342213 A2 EP1342213 A2 EP 1342213A2 EP 01989482 A EP01989482 A EP 01989482A EP 01989482 A EP01989482 A EP 01989482A EP 1342213 A2 EP1342213 A2 EP 1342213A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cutting plane
voxels
image
point
analysis device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01989482A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Geerd R. Kemkers
Rudolf T. Suurmond
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koninklijke Philips NV
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Priority to EP01989482A priority Critical patent/EP1342213A2/en
Publication of EP1342213A2 publication Critical patent/EP1342213A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T19/00—Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2210/00—Indexing scheme for image generation or computer graphics
    • G06T2210/41—Medical
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2219/00—Indexing scheme for manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
    • G06T2219/008—Cut plane or projection plane definition

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a medical analysis device for a three-dimensional image acquired by means of, for example angiography or radiography, which device includes a storage member for storing voxels that together constitute the image, a display device for displaying the image, and a manipulating member for manipulating the imaging voxels.
  • a device of this kind is marketed by applicant and is used, for example in hospitals, for the evaluation of images of patients that have been acquired by means of angiography or radiography.
  • An example of such an application is the evaluation of a blood vessel structure so as to determine whether and to what extent a medical intervention is desirable.
  • One function that is desirable for such a medical evaluation concerns the possibility of determining the volume of the parts of the body examined.
  • Another function that is desirable for such a medical analysis device concerns the possibility of further analysis of regions of the part of the body of the patient that is involved in the examination, that is, to use the analysis device to exclude, erase or measure such regions from or in images obtained by means of the medical analysis device.
  • Another function concerns the possibility of evaluation from different sides of the body part that has been imaged, or the possibility of making cross-sections thereof at angles that can be determined at random.
  • the present invention aims to facilitate these and other functions of such a medical analysis device.
  • the medical analysis device is characterized in that the manipulating member is arranged for the selective erasure of voxels in a predetermined direction. A selection can thus be performed on the image material obtained, thus enabling the extraction of relevant data therefrom; such an operation is performed completely under the control of a medical expert operating the analysis device.
  • the predetermined direction then extends perpendicularly to the image plane of the display device. Very accurate detailing and selection of the image material that is desired or not benefit from the fact that the voxels to be erased in the predetermined direction are situated one in the prolongation of the other.
  • the medical analysis device is preferably constructed in such a manner that the voxels to be erased in a predetermined direction are erasable over an adjustable distance.
  • the erased material can be restored again in an inverse operation, without it being necessary to perform all previously performed manipulations again on the original image material. This benefits in particular the ease of operation and use of the device in accordance with the invention.
  • the analysis device is provided with a manipulating member that is arranged to adjust the orientation of an imaginary cutting plane that serves to cut through the image formed by the voxels and where the display device is capable of simultaneous display of the cutting plane and at least part of the image formed by the voxels, is characterized in that an imaginary point of origin that is situated in the cutting plane can be allocated to the cutting plane and that this point constitutes a point of rotation for the cutting plane when the orientation of the cutting plane is readjusted.
  • This facility represents an important improvement over the prior art medical analysis device in which the cutting plane, upon readjustment, moves around a point of origin that is situated at the center of the image relative to the part of the body being examined. This gives rise to unnatural and comparatively complex positioning of the cutting plane in the image and hence of the cross-section through the organ of the patient being examined. The analysis of the part of the body or organ being examined according to prior art is thus seriously hampered.
  • US 4,984,157 discloses a system for adjustment and rotation of cutting planes through a three-dimensional body as represented by the voxels that are stored in a storage member; therein the cutting plane is moved relative to an arbitrary origin selected from the image space.
  • the solution in accordance with the invention that is, situating the point of origin in the cutting plane itself instead of in an arbitrary position, however, is not known from the cited publication.
  • the manipulating member is arranged to adjust the imaginary point of origin.
  • the manipulating member is a mouse which is provided with a mouse cursor and a mouse button, and that the mouse button can be used to adjust the imaginary point of origin of the cutting plane and the mouse cursor can be used to adjust the orientation of the cutting plane. It is also possible to use a track ball or another suitable adjusting member for this purpose.
  • An alternative embodiment of the medical analysis device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the device positions the imaginary point of origin at the center of gravity of the cutting plane. This saves an operation for adjustment by the user of the analysis device, thus simplifying the device while at the same time imparting a reproducible position to the point of rotation of the cutting plane.
  • the device when the cutting plane is readjusted, the device adapts the imaginary point of origin and keeps it positioned in the shifting center of gravity of the cutting plane.
  • the determination of the center of gravity is based each time on the cutting plane as it is visible to the user in the image displayed by the display device.
  • the imaginary point of origin may (at the same time) form a point of rotation for the image displayed by the display device.
  • the invention also relates to methods of processing a three-dimensional image. Methods in accordance with the invention are defined in the claims 11 and 13.
  • the invention also relates to computer programs for the processing of a three-dimensional image. Computer programs in accordance with the invention are defined in the claims 12 and 14. It is assumed that the above description is complete and clear to such an extent that a person skilled in the art can readily carry out the invention without requiring further information.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Graphics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)
  • Processing Or Creating Images (AREA)
  • Image Analysis (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical analysis device which is intended to analyze a three-dimensional image acquired by means of angiography or radiography. The device includes a memory in which the three-dimensional image is stored. The image is displayed on a monitor. The system includes a manipulator which is intended to process voxels of the image. The manipulator notably deletes or erases voxels selectively from the three-dimensional image in a predetermined direction. Such a manipulator operates as an electronic eraser.

Description

Medical analysis device
The invention relates to a medical analysis device for a three-dimensional image acquired by means of, for example angiography or radiography, which device includes a storage member for storing voxels that together constitute the image, a display device for displaying the image, and a manipulating member for manipulating the imaging voxels. A device of this kind is marketed by applicant and is used, for example in hospitals, for the evaluation of images of patients that have been acquired by means of angiography or radiography. An example of such an application is the evaluation of a blood vessel structure so as to determine whether and to what extent a medical intervention is desirable. One function that is desirable for such a medical evaluation concerns the possibility of determining the volume of the parts of the body examined.
Another function that is desirable for such a medical analysis device concerns the possibility of further analysis of regions of the part of the body of the patient that is involved in the examination, that is, to use the analysis device to exclude, erase or measure such regions from or in images obtained by means of the medical analysis device.
Another function concerns the possibility of evaluation from different sides of the body part that has been imaged, or the possibility of making cross-sections thereof at angles that can be determined at random.
The present invention aims to facilitate these and other functions of such a medical analysis device.
To this end, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention the medical analysis device is characterized in that the manipulating member is arranged for the selective erasure of voxels in a predetermined direction. A selection can thus be performed on the image material obtained, thus enabling the extraction of relevant data therefrom; such an operation is performed completely under the control of a medical expert operating the analysis device.
For suitable control and transparency of the operation of the medical analysis device it is desirable that the predetermined direction then extends perpendicularly to the image plane of the display device. Very accurate detailing and selection of the image material that is desired or not benefit from the fact that the voxels to be erased in the predetermined direction are situated one in the prolongation of the other.
In order to optimize the management and control of the image material, the medical analysis device is preferably constructed in such a manner that the voxels to be erased in a predetermined direction are erasable over an adjustable distance. Evidently, when erasure has been carried out too far in a given direction, the erased material can be restored again in an inverse operation, without it being necessary to perform all previously performed manipulations again on the original image material. This benefits in particular the ease of operation and use of the device in accordance with the invention.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, where the analysis device is provided with a manipulating member that is arranged to adjust the orientation of an imaginary cutting plane that serves to cut through the image formed by the voxels and where the display device is capable of simultaneous display of the cutting plane and at least part of the image formed by the voxels, is characterized in that an imaginary point of origin that is situated in the cutting plane can be allocated to the cutting plane and that this point constitutes a point of rotation for the cutting plane when the orientation of the cutting plane is readjusted.
This facility represents an important improvement over the prior art medical analysis device in which the cutting plane, upon readjustment, moves around a point of origin that is situated at the center of the image relative to the part of the body being examined. This gives rise to unnatural and comparatively complex positioning of the cutting plane in the image and hence of the cross-section through the organ of the patient being examined. The analysis of the part of the body or organ being examined according to prior art is thus seriously hampered.
This problem is eliminated by providing the medical analysis device in accordance with the invention with the facility that has just been introduced. When the point of origin about which the cutting plane can move is positioned such that it is situated in the cutting plane, the movement of the cutting plane becomes very natural; this significantly facilitates the analysis of the part of the body or organ being examined.
It is to be noted that US 4,984,157 discloses a system for adjustment and rotation of cutting planes through a three-dimensional body as represented by the voxels that are stored in a storage member; therein the cutting plane is moved relative to an arbitrary origin selected from the image space. The solution in accordance with the invention, that is, situating the point of origin in the cutting plane itself instead of in an arbitrary position, however, is not known from the cited publication.
In order to offer the person operating the medical analysis device in accordance with the invention more freedom of choice and possibilities for examination, it is advantageous when the manipulating member is arranged to adjust the imaginary point of origin.
A suitable and at the same time very simple method of realizing the foregoing is characterized in that the manipulating member is a mouse which is provided with a mouse cursor and a mouse button, and that the mouse button can be used to adjust the imaginary point of origin of the cutting plane and the mouse cursor can be used to adjust the orientation of the cutting plane. It is also possible to use a track ball or another suitable adjusting member for this purpose.
An alternative embodiment of the medical analysis device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the device positions the imaginary point of origin at the center of gravity of the cutting plane. This saves an operation for adjustment by the user of the analysis device, thus simplifying the device while at the same time imparting a reproducible position to the point of rotation of the cutting plane.
In a further elaboration of this application it may be advantageous that, when the cutting plane is readjusted, the device adapts the imaginary point of origin and keeps it positioned in the shifting center of gravity of the cutting plane. The determination of the center of gravity is based each time on the cutting plane as it is visible to the user in the image displayed by the display device.
In a further preferred embodiment of the analysis device in accordance with the invention the imaginary point of origin may (at the same time) form a point of rotation for the image displayed by the display device.
The invention also relates to methods of processing a three-dimensional image. Methods in accordance with the invention are defined in the claims 11 and 13. The invention also relates to computer programs for the processing of a three-dimensional image. Computer programs in accordance with the invention are defined in the claims 12 and 14. It is assumed that the above description is complete and clear to such an extent that a person skilled in the art can readily carry out the invention without requiring further information.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A medical analysis device for a three-dimensional image acquired by means of, for example angiography or radiography, which device includes a storage member for storing voxels that together constitute the image, a display device for displaying the image, and a manipulating member for manipulating the imaging voxels, characterized in that the manipulating member is arranged for the selective erasure of voxels in a predetermined direction.
2. A medical analysis device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined direction extends perpendicularly to the image plane of the display device.
3. A medical analysis device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the voxels to be erased in the predetermined direction are situated one in the prolongation of the other.
4. A medical analysis device as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the voxels to be erased in the predetermined direction are erasable over an adjustable distance.
5. A medical analysis device for a three-dimensional image acquired by means of, for example, angiography or radiography, which device includes a storage member for storing voxels that together constitute the image, a display device for displaying the image, and a manipulating member for manipulating the imaging voxels, which manipulating member is arranged to adjust the orientation of an imaginary cutting plane that serves to cut through the image formed by the voxels, the display device being capable of simultaneous display of the cutting plane and at least part of the image formed by the voxels, characterized in that an imaginary point of origin that is situated in the cutting plane can be allocated to the cutting plane and that this point constitutes a point of rotation for this cutting plane when the orientation of this cutting plane is readjusted.
6. A medical analysis device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the manipulating member is arranged to adjust the imaginary point of origin.
7. A medical analysis device as claimed in the claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the manipulating member is a mouse which is provided with a mouse cursor and a mouse button, and that the mouse button can be used to adjust the imaginary point of origin of the cutting plane and the mouse cursor can be used to adjust the orientation of the cutting plane.
8. A medical analysis device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the device positions the imaginary point of origin at the center of gravity of the cutting plane.
9. A medical analysis device as claimed in one of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that when the cutting plane is readjusted, the device adapts the imaginary point of origin and keeps it positioned at the shifting center of gravity of the cutting plane.
10. A medical analysis device as claimed in one of the claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the imaginary point of origin constitutes a point of rotation for the image.
11. A method of processing and displaying a three-dimensional image acquired by means of, for example, angiography or radiography and comprising voxels that together constitute the image, characterized in that voxels are selectively erased in a predetermined direction.
12. A computer program with instructions for the processing and display of an image acquired by means of, for example, angiography or radiography and comprising voxels that together constitute the image, characterized in that voxels are selectively erased in a predetermined direction.
13. A method of processing a three-dimensional image acquired by means of, for example, angiography or radiography and comprising voxels that together constitute the image, where the image is displayed and the orientation is adjusted of an imaginary cutting plane that serves to cut through the image formed by the voxels, the cutting plane and at least part of the image formed by the voxels being displayed simultaneously, characterized in that an imaginary point of origin that is situated in the cutting plane is allocated to the cutting plane and that this point constitutes a point of rotation for this cutting plane when the orientation of this cutting plane is readjusted.
14. A computer program with instructions for the processing of a three- dimensional image acquired by means of, for example, angiography or radiography and comprising voxels that together constitute the image, where the image is displayed and the orientation is adjusted of an imaginary cutting plane that serves to cut through the image formed by the voxels, the cutting plane and at least a part of the image formed by the voxels being displayed simultaneously, characterized in that an imaginary point of origin that is situated in the cutting plane is allocated to the cutting plane and that this point constitutes a point of rotation for this cutting plane when the orientation of the cutting plane is readjusted.
EP01989482A 2000-11-20 2001-11-15 Medical analysis device Withdrawn EP1342213A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01989482A EP1342213A2 (en) 2000-11-20 2001-11-15 Medical analysis device

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00204102 2000-11-20
EP00204102 2000-11-20
EP01989482A EP1342213A2 (en) 2000-11-20 2001-11-15 Medical analysis device
PCT/EP2001/013324 WO2002041256A2 (en) 2000-11-20 2001-11-15 Medical analysis device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1342213A2 true EP1342213A2 (en) 2003-09-10

Family

ID=8172295

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01989482A Withdrawn EP1342213A2 (en) 2000-11-20 2001-11-15 Medical analysis device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20030001905A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1342213A2 (en)
JP (1) JP4184079B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2002041256A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4632807B2 (en) * 2005-02-21 2011-02-16 株式会社日立メディコ Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment
US11000252B2 (en) 2014-09-02 2021-05-11 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Device for visualizing a 3D object

Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4694404A (en) * 1984-01-12 1987-09-15 Key Bank N.A. High-speed image generation of complex solid objects using octree encoding
EP1001379A2 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-05-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Incrementally calculated cut-plane region for viewing a portion of a volume data set in real-time

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US4766556A (en) * 1984-11-20 1988-08-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Three-dimensional solid object manipulating apparatus and method therefor
US4984157A (en) * 1988-09-21 1991-01-08 General Electric Company System and method for displaying oblique planar cross sections of a solid body using tri-linear interpolation to determine pixel position dataes
US5842473A (en) * 1993-11-29 1998-12-01 Life Imaging Systems Three-dimensional imaging system
JP3608225B2 (en) * 1994-08-11 2005-01-05 株式会社日立製作所 Development drawing method using 3D image data
US6556198B1 (en) * 1997-06-16 2003-04-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Polyhedron generating method and apparatus thereof, and storage medium for storing the method
US6389104B1 (en) * 2000-06-30 2002-05-14 Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. Fluoroscopy based 3-D neural navigation based on 3-D angiography reconstruction data

Patent Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4694404A (en) * 1984-01-12 1987-09-15 Key Bank N.A. High-speed image generation of complex solid objects using octree encoding
EP1001379A2 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-05-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Incrementally calculated cut-plane region for viewing a portion of a volume data set in real-time

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
BERND FRÖHLICH, JOHN PLATE, JÜRGEN WIND, GEROLD WESCHE, MARTIN GÖBEL: "Cubic-Mouse-Based Interaction in Virtual Environments", IEEE COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND APPLICATIONS, vol. 20, no. 4, 7 July 2000 (2000-07-07), pages 12 - 15, XP007912007 *
KITAGAWA E ET AL: "An interactive voxel data manipulation system for surgical simulation", ROBOT AND HUMAN COMMUNICATION, 1994. RO-MAN '94 NAGOYA, PROCEEDINGS., 3RD IEEE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NAGOYA, JAPAN 18-20 JULY 1994, NEW YORK, NY, USA,IEEE, 18 July 1994 (1994-07-18), pages 204 - 209, XP010125429, ISBN: 978-0-7803-2002-4 *
MERRIMAN, MANSFIELD: "Elements of mechanics; forty lessons for beginners in engineering (1905)", 1 March 1905, NEW YORK, WILEY, XP007912006 *
See also references of WO0241256A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2004513724A (en) 2004-05-13
WO2002041256A2 (en) 2002-05-23
WO2002041256A3 (en) 2002-09-12
US20030001905A1 (en) 2003-01-02
JP4184079B2 (en) 2008-11-19

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